As published in IBJ 2017 Giving Guide

Colliers' culture committee, comprised of representatives from all departments, determines where Colliers directs its time, money and resources. The committee helps identify which organization will receive the majority of the firm's support—both money and boots on the ground—over the course of two or three years. And then Colliers' volunteers work side-by-side with those they are helping. "We are intentional in our approach of 'coming alongside' when giving back to others—to partner with, so to speak," said Tim Norton, Colliers' executive vice president and culture
committee lead. "There is great power and impact when you act as a collective group."

The current beneficiary of Colliers' generosity is Elevate Indianapolis, a group that invests in the lives of urban children holistically—in the classroom, after school, in the summer and all year-round. The idea is to invest in urban kids who are fighting to overcome circumstances they didn't choose and to change generational poverty by showing kids that achieving can lead to a better future. In 2016 Colliers volunteers did set-up and served as event hosts for Elevate's inaugural Spring Student/Parent Graduation Ceremony. Colliers donated treats and decorations, and its volunteers served as event greeters. Colliers also hosted for Elevate an inaugural "School Spirit(s)" fundraiser to help raise awareness of the organization in its launch year and to provide seed money. The fundraiser, which included a silent auction and "fund-a-need" donations, raised more than $96,600. While Elevate Indianapolis is Colliers' current focus, the company's generosity extends to other worthy organizations. Those include:

• The Julian Center. What started as a simple idea to adopt-a-family for holiday gift giving, mushroomed into Colliers providing much more. The call for contributions at Colliers generated enough money to buy gifts for a family
of seven, provide gift cards to 11 others who were living at The Julian Center, buy and decorate Christmas trees for each of the center's 30 apartments, and buy bedding and towels to send with families at the end of their stay. Donations also helped offset the cost of the center's annual holiday dinner.

• St. Mary's Child Center. This has become an annual cause for the Colliers' property management division, which devotes time and materials toward a full-day makeover of St. Mary's Child Center's playground and
building exteriors.

• Wheeler Mission. Since 2011, Colliers volunteers have served lunch every other week at the downtown Wheeler Mission for men. A sock drive brought in more than 140 pairs of socks. As a Colliers spokesperson said, volunteers have forged meaningful relationships with Wheeler clients. Volunteers are also reminded of the advantages they have that shouldn't be taken for granted.

• Indiana Sports Corp. Corporate Challenge. Colliers has been an active participant in Corporate Challenge since 2009 and consistently places in the top 3 in its division. As important as the athletic events are. Colliers does even better generating results for the Corporate Challenge compassion events, which focus on such things as blood drives, monetary contributions and the donation of athletic gear. In 2016, Colliers placed first in Division 1 compassion events.

• Hendricks County Division of MIBOR's Clothe-A-Child. A Colliers team participated in Bowl-a-Thon, which raises money for Hendricks County Division of MIBOR's annual
initiative to clothe children of low income households.

• The Shepherd Community. Students at the near-eastside neighborhood and youth assistance organization benefited from a "Company Field Day" organized by Colliers in which students got a tour of the Colliers offices and learned about career paths in commercial real estate and what it's like to work in an office. A silent auction held
by Colliers also raised $15,000 for the organization. Colliers employees donated gifts for Shepherd's annual Christmas party and held a clean-up day at the Shepherd campus.

To encourage individual giving, Colliers' benefit package includes two paid days off for volunteerism and a company annual match up to $200 for employee non-profit/501C donations.